The Bossier banner., 1887-06-02
H1TNTING THE ANISES.
snort Which Is Laughed at But
Requires Nerve.
..,S Rider Tells About tho Chase on
reus Island- Why the Anise-sscd
Beg II Better Than Eek.

Hag IL Better Iu8u - EOxs
sppople who have never tried it and
i not know what the sport is like have
..de 4 great deal Of fun of what they
ID chasing the anise-seed bag" said
4, master Of the Meadowbrook hounds
Al sharp ride over Hampstead
Ijps He was a sturdy, athletic
'mug man, clad in scarlet jacket, white
kssches, riding-boots and hunting
10 For two hours previous his
boroughbred horse had been carrying
Iin over rsilfences and across fields
IL breakneck pace, never hesitating
Ii jump. and keeping close to pack
4 scunJing hounds, followed by twen-
tya thirty other horses and riders.
Itis popular impression" he con-
tnued, that this is an artificial style
i hunting; but after all it is no more
rHicial than following foxes that are
hoi land preserved for the sole purpose
ahunting them, as in England. More
pnr, there are many advantages and
hbgs to be commended in the Ameri-
IN iox-hunt Most of the men who en-
nse in the sport are business men who
aonot want to spend a whole day try
hzte find fox and then perhaps have
spoor run. They want to go out for
III afternoon and be sure of a good ride.
kh not more than twice in season
that 4 hunt club in England will have
sgood run as we can every day.
0Eer there, even. they frequently trap
loxes and put them into the cover the
light before the run, and / can't see
wherein that is any improvement over
our method. They tell a story of a whip
xho left a kennel and gave a reason
hat be couldn't stand the night work.
e seemed that he was out planting
luzes every night. It is all very well for
nen who have nothing else on earth to
aoto spend whole days in the field for
he sake Of one or two runs in season,
aus Americans will not do that. Be
adss. It Is difficult to find wild foxes in
y farming districts Of this country,
aseause the farmers exterminate them
y pests. The American farmer is not
s1ucated up to the point of preserving
Y nzes that will raid his poultry yard for
asiun Of seeing hounds and men on
aaiseback chase them through his fields.
When we want q hunt, a man goes
eal n hour or two ahead Of the hounds
aad walks over the line selected, drag
Eag behind him bag or rag soaked
"a anise, which leaves q scent that
= hounds will follow. He can choose
'saole country, avoid impracticable
aos and barbed-wire fences, and
! &c the run just the right distance.
70 ehances with wild fox would be
- ne would take across bit Of coun-
y shere no horse could follow or be
eent u . few minutes from the start
"a pol the days sport. Another ad-
nnsagc y that the man with the drag
- heep OF the land of farmers who
ss to have their rails ridden over.
as nrmers DO object, and we always
apscs their wishes Of course. Really
= - e out little damage, and we pay
y aenea over for that little. We keep
Y g the meadows and grain fields,
oa ordinary land the horses can
81, s nothing. A fence rail may be
o sv.sn or Knocked down once in a while.
ast = repaired or paid for the next
e e Hnen man goes over the line for
- - purpose and makes everything
~ - !. ne try to keep on good terms
i ". sae farmers, and by paying for the
%. treating them civilly, and MAX
I. ,shos with them, we have succeeded
nls vicinity. But we have not got
! 3 i y ep q the point of breeding foxes
= saeir farms.
aae length Of run and the charac-
sl:, y 'ae country over which the scent
~ depend upon the class Of riders
sa N the field. Down here we
.ss fee runs . week during the
q & aad fan seasons, and we try to
s. y 'he members Of the club. One
s. sase .. short run. say eight miles
{. aor those who are not hard riders.
aog country that is not too dan
-. y Ior the elderly men, and keeping
Z, fi son the worst fences. Another
B 8 saass Y : long run. perhaps twice as
~ g sae younger men who want to
a1ia md fast and take the stifrost
msy can find. Sometimes the
asa l'ae after the hounds, and some
4 a ride very well, too. but we do
e'0rses thep, because il Is dan